Coljuegos has filed a complaint with Colombia’s Attorney General’s Office against five people accused of defrauding foreign citizens through fake Baloto lottery prize claims.
The regulator said the scheme involved alleged witchcraft services, social media contact and AI-generated videos designed to convince victims they had won Baloto prizes.
According to Coljuegos, some citizens lost up to $21,000 after being told to transfer money to Colombian accounts. The payments were allegedly presented first as funds to buy Baloto tickets, then as taxes or fees needed to release prize payments.
Coljuegos President Marco Emilio Hincapié said: “We filed the corresponding complaints so that the authorities can take action against these criminal organizations.”
The regulator said the fraudsters arranged virtual sessions in which a supposed witch doctor gave victims “lucky numbers.” It said criminals later used artificial intelligence to create a fake draw video showing those numbers as winners.
Hincapié added: “It’s important to remind bettors that the prizes are paid out directly by the game operators, not by our organization.”
The case adds to wider concerns around digital fraud in regulated gambling, particularly where lottery brands are used to target consumers outside the jurisdiction in which the game operates.
Baloto is Colombia’s flagship online lottery game and is currently operated by Operador Nacional de Juegos under a concession running from May 2022 to May 2027.
Authorized Baloto sales channels include physical points of sale through SuRed and Super Giros, as well as the official Baloto online platforms. Coljuegos said citizens should verify any prize claims directly with operators or through official regulator channels.
The complaint also comes as Coljuegos continues enforcement activity against unauthorized gambling and illegal promotional activity across digital channels, including social media.
Earlier this week, Global Gaming Insider reported that Coljuegos had published a draft framework for Baloto’s next concession cycle, with changes covering draw frequency, digital streaming requirements, prize structures and royalty payments.
Baloto's current operating concession expires in May 2027, with Coljuegos preparing a new tender process that will govern the lottery's next contract cycle and operational framework through updated regulations.
